WHAT’SINSIDE
Editor: Tim Wolfert ‘87
Layout: Reuben VanderKwaak
Copy Editor: Melissa Kuipers ‘06
4
Campus News
10
Feature Story
Ribbon-cutting ceremonies mark end of
two projects, while work begins on two
new initiatives; The Growing with Integrity
Campaign nears target; Lecture Series
encourage engagement with world; athletic
teams prepare to wrap up successful
seasons; Alumni Cantori concert highlight
Spring Cultural Calendar
We’ve all heard stories about university
grads who can’t find a job. Meet some
Redeemer alumni who chose to hire
themselves, and find out how Redeemer’s
liberal arts education prepared them for the
challenges of entrepreneurship.
14
Centre Spot
16
Faculty News
Named awards recognize student
excellence and the generous support of
many donors
Work, play, research…Redeemer faculty
involved in a variety of projects on-campus
and off; using stories to promote social justice
19
Lectern-at-Large
20
Student News
Golden handshake or golden opportunity?
Reflections on “mandatory” retirement
Accommodating for culture and classrooms
in Sierra Leone; Reading Week is more
than fun in the sun; Worship Conference
examines more than just music.
23
Alumni News
27
Lasting Image
Finding grace in a search for the past;
Alumni Board update; alumni return to
share graduate school experiences; alumnus’
feature to highlight first Film Festival
Although its exterior has a bold new look,
the interior of the Peter Turkstra Library is
not too shabby either…
Front Cover:
After years of planning and the generosity of many supporters, the South Wing addition
was officially dedicated on January 26, 2006. The south exposure, which faces Garner
Road, features a backlit stained glass representation of Redeemer’s badge, which
proudly proclaims the nature of our work and honours the Lamb whom we serve.
See the full story on page 4.
Contributors:
Angela Bick ‘01, Amy Binder ‘06,
James Bloemendal ‘06, Jenn Klassen ‘06,
Josie Loewen ‘06, Dave Mantel ‘99,
Albert Postma ‘06, Dr. Theo Plantinga,
Tim van Alstyne ‘07
Photo Credits:
All photos taken by Redeemer staff except:
p. 2: Banko Photographic; pg. 8: Randy Smith
(www.randysphotos.ca) p. 10: Jeff McIntosh,
Canadian Press; p.12: Hank DeJong;
p. 20: Loreen Deelstra and Katie McBride;
p. 24-25: Thanh Campbell
Cover Photo:
Jon Evans, Banko Photographic
Editorial Advisory Board:
Erin Goheen ‘03, Sharon Vandermeulen ‘89,
Mark Van Beveren
Images is published three times per year by
the Communications and Media Relations
Department of Redeemer University College
in conjunction with the Alumni Association.
Ideas and opinions expressed in Images may
not necessarily reflect those of the editors,
the Alumni Association or the university
college. Letters and editorial comments
are welcomed. We reserve the right to edit
submissions for content or brevity.
Vol 20 No 2
Redeemer University College is a Christian
liberal arts and science university, offering
courses and programs leading to a
bachelor’s degree. Redeemer serves over
800 students on its 90-acre campus on the
outskirts of Hamilton.
Publications Mail Agreement #40040898
Return Undeliverable Canadian addresses to:
Images
Redeemer University College
777 Garner Road East
Ancaster, ON L9K 1J4
[email protected]
Tel: 905-648-2139 x4292
Fax: 905-648-2134
www.redeemer.ca
CAMPUSNEWS
More than Just a Building
South Wing dedication serves as a reminder of
Redeemer’s mission
Left: James VanGurp reflects on his family’s
lengthy association with Redeemer.
Right: A smaller version of the stained glass
that sits atop of the building can also be found
inside the library.
A
cold but clear Thursday night in
January was the backdrop for a
warm, intimate gathering of Redeemer
supporters and guests to dedicate the
new South Wing addition including
the Peter Turkstra Library. The event
was the culmination of a series of
ribbon cuttings, official openings, and
donor recognition socials that started
last fall when the first portions of the
3225-square meter facility opened. The
addition is now in full use with student,
faculty and community members
remarking not only on its attractive
design and impressive architecture,
but also its functionalities for teaching,
research and studying.
The dedication evening featured
music, congratulatory messages
from three levels of government
and reflections of those who had
been involved in various parts of the
project. Senior Director of Library and
Information Services, Janny Eikelboom,
commented on the patience of students
and faculty who dealt with reduced or
eliminated services and space during
the construction.
Perhaps the most poignant comments
were made by James VanGurp ‘00, Vice
President of Graceview Enterprises, the
project’s general contractor. VanGurp
lauded the efforts of the construction
team and the cooperation of many,
including Reinders and Rieder, the
campus architects and engineers. But
his observation that his family had
been involved in the formation of the
university as supporters and his own
status as an alumnus of Redeemer
reinforced to many that this was not just
another construction project, either for
Graceview, or for most of the hundreds
of people involved.
The party, for now, is over. The work
and mission of Redeemer continue, greatly
assisted by this wonderful new facility.
How the West was Opened
I
Holding the banner, and minding their toes, were (left to right) President Justin
Cooper; Bill Kelly, Deputy Mayor, City of Hamilton; Erwin Wall, President of Trenchline
and Roads, the general contractor; and Steve van der Woerd of van der Woerd &
Associates, the engineering firm which oversaw the project.
n a unique variation of a ribbon cutting ceremony, Media
and Communications Director Mark Van Beveren drove
a Redeemer utility vehicle through a banner to mark the
opening of Redeemer’s western entrance to Kitty Murray
Lane. This project was part of a joint development venture
that Redeemer had entered into with the City of Hamilton
to develop the west side of the campus. As part of the
project, Kitty Murray Lane was “pulled through” and paved
from Garner Road to Stonehenge Drive, making it easier
for students and visitors to access the campus from the
Meadowlands area.
CAMPUSNEWS
Growing With Integrity
Capital Campaign Nears Completion
T
he dedication of the South Wing marked a significant
milestone in Redeemer’s Growing with Integrity Capital
Campaign. Since its start in 2003, over $11 million has been
raised through the Campaign; these funds have been used
to complete the East Side Addition (expanding the food
services facilities, adding new art studios and music practice
rooms, and increasing storage facilities), undertake a number
of infrastructure improvements (the western driveway,
upgrading underground services), and of course, to build the
South Wing.
In order to focus Redeemer’s efforts on making Christian
university education more affordable (see story on page 7),
the Board of Governors recently decided to delay the
construction of the $3.5 million Knox Court Residences.
With the delay, the Campaign’s goal was revised to $11.5
million – still the most ambitious undertaking since the
construction of the Ancaster campus.
“We are so grateful for the incredible response to this
initiative,” notes Chris Berghuis, Campaign Director, “and we
are looking forward to wrapping it up by the spring.”
NEW!
Campaign Goal $11.5 Million
To Raise:
$440,000
Pledged:
$11,060,000
Check out the revamped Growing With Integrity website!
Click on www.redeemer.ca/giving
Recreation Park to reflect environmental commitment
T
he last project which will be undertaken as part of
the Capital Campaign is the establishment of the
Conservation and Recreation Park. The purpose of this project
is to conserve and enhance the provincially-recognized sensitive
wetland on campus and to add to and improve the outdoor
recreational and athletic facilities and their related infrastructure.
A number of organizations have already recognized the
significance of the environmental aspect of the park for
Redeemer and the broader community in Hamilton. Redeemer
takes seriously its responsibilities as a good neighbour and
steward of the environment. It recently contracted LGL
Environmental Research to develop an ecological management
plan, not only for wetlands but encompassing the rest of
the campus also. When complete, that plan will benefit the
community as well as the university.
A gift from TD Financial Group and the TD Friends of the
Environment is earmarked to help fund an interpretive trail
and park land in the regeneration area of the campus. Notes
TD District Vice President Dave May, “Our gift will ensure
the enhancement of the educational and community uses of
Redeemer lands for many visitors, including community schools.
The park will offer a much needed facility which will offset the
current shortage experienced in Hamilton and Ancaster.”
CAMPUSNEWS
Taking Faith out of the Classroom
Lecture Series promote a Christian understanding of all life
C
hrist calls us to look at the world
with new eyes, with a perspective
rooted in the Word, and worked out in
all aspects of life. This is the message that
the Redeemer community heard from
speakers at two recent lecture series.
In November, as part of the Bernard
Zylstra Lecture Series, Dr. Paul Marshall,
Senior Fellow at the Center of Religious
Freedom in Washington, DC spoke on
the persecuted church and specifically
on the challenges that have arisen from
Islam’s rise as a religious and political
movement. A former part-time instructor
of Political Science at Redeemer,
Dr. Marshall argued that Western
Christians can and must do more to
help our brothers and sisters around
the world. In particular, Dr. Marshall
challenged the Redeemer community
to peek outside the bubble of North
America and look for ways to be salt and
light across the whole world.
In January, the World and our Calling
Lectures featured Calvin College
Chemistry professor Dr. Arie Leegwater,
who spoke on the relationship of
scientific endeavour and the Christian
faith. As opposed to the notion that
science is a neutral, non-religious
endeavour, Dr. Leegwater argued
for a more robust understanding of
Christian faith – one that makes Christ
a legitimate and integral part of our
scientific enquiry. Although Christians
should not rely on the Bible as a prooftext to establish scientific truth, they
also need not accept that science (and
its methodology) is the only way of
understanding God’s world. Scientists–
and Christians–should cultivate an
attitude of humility and wonder while
they pursue insights into the creation.
Although in one sense the two lectures
have completely different themes,
they do complement each other. Both
By Tim Van Alstyne ‘07
Dr. Paul Marshall returned to Redeemer to give the
Bernard Zylstra Lecture this past November.
Dr. Leegwater and Dr. Marshall have
dedicated themselves to applying the
claims of Christ over their respective
disciplines, namely science and
international politics. The Redeemer
community has been enriched, not
only by their knowledge, but also by the
passion they have for seeing their work
through the eyes of Christ.
Hamilton: Education City!
Redeemer collaborates in promoting Hamilton’s economy
M
ention “Hamilton” and most people think of steel
companies and related businesses. And while it is
true that those industries continue to play a huge role in the
region’s economy, Redeemer is part of city-wide initiative that is
identifying ways to promote Hamilton as a centre for educational
opportunity, research and discovery.
President Cooper is a member of
the Mayor’s Roundtable on Education
and the Hamilton Economy, an ongoing
initiative of the Office of the Mayor
in partnership with the IndustryEducation Council of Hamilton (IEC). The purpose of the
Roundtable is to provide a forum for senior leaders from
Hamilton’s top education institutions to establish and
guide shared long term priorities that leverage the entire
local learning system to encourage sustainable economic
development. Assistant Professor of Business, Rob Harvey,
helped organize the first roundtable event in May 2004.
One of the first projects of the Roundtable has been a
comprehensive marketing plan to promote Hamilton as
a nationally recognized centre for
educational opportunity, research and
discovery. Director of Communications,
Mark Van Beveren, is part of the working
group that developed this plan, which was
released this fall.
Having the opportunity to participate in activities such
as the Roundtable and the IEC not only gives recognition to
Redeemer’s role in the community, it provides opportunities for
the university to give something back—to be a good neighbour.
CAMPUSNEWS
Making Redeemer More Affordable
A
fter six consecutive years of growth, enrolment at
Redeemer University College dipped this year, as it did
at many other post-secondary institutions. The impact of such
a decrease is felt most acutely at a smaller institution like
Redeemer, whose budget is driven largely by tuition revenue.
As they considered the impact on this year’s operating
budget, senior administrators were determined not to adopt
a “slash and burn” approach to balancing the books. “We
recognize that if we start to cut programs or services, we start
on a path that can quickly spiral downward,” notes President
Cooper. “If we try to balance the books by reducing what
we offer to students, then they have less reason to attend; it
becomes a difficult pattern to break.”
Although there are some demographic reasons for this
development that are beyond its control, Redeemer has also
identified a number of factors, such as affordability, that it
can influence. “Although Redeemer continues to offer a
quality Christian education that is cost competitive with sister
institutions,” says Cooper, “students also cost-compare us with
publicly-funded institutions in Ontario.”
With the encouragement and support of the Board of
Governors, Redeemer has introduced a number of proposals
that demonstrate its commitment to financial accessibility.
These include:
•
•
•
•
Freezing tuition for the 2006-2007 academic year at the
current level of $11,082;
Freezing next year’s food and housing fees at the current
level of $5,166;
Increasing by up to 65% four of the major scholarships
offered by Redeemer (see page 11);
Increasing campus employment wages by 3.5%
Coupled with significant increases in provincial and federal
student aid programs, Redeemer administrators feel the
changes announced will help students and their supporting
families meet the financial challenges they encounter as they
invest in their post-secondary education.
More information on these changes can be found at the
“What’s Happening at Redeemer” section of Redeemer’s website www.redeemer.ca.
Getting to know the Neighbours
O
n February 25, Redeemer was featured in a 12-page
“advertorial” insert in the Hamilton Spectator. Given the
newspaper’s circulation of more than a quarter-million, this was
a wonderful vehicle for Redeemer to introduce itself to those
who live in the Golden Horseshoe.
The insert described the important role that Redeemer plays
in its community: its contributions to Hamilton’s economy,
the local cultural scene, its work with the City on a number
of development projects and the impact that its students have
through community service.
“This is a great opportunity for Redeemer to not only
position itself as an important part of Hamilton, but to share its
mission of providing a Christ-centred education,” notes Bill van
Staalduinen, Vice-President (Advancement).
The insert was made possible by a number of businesses
who purchased advertising space. We thank them for their
generous support of this project. Anyone wishing to receive
a copy of the insert should contact the Community Relations
Office at Redeemer by phone (905-648-2139 x4233) or email
([email protected]).
“Hamilton’s overall economy benefits from the skills, knowledge and
competencies that are developed by all our education providers. Redeemer
University College plays a key role in advancing Hamilton’s competitive advantage
as a centre for education opportunity, research and discovery.” His Worship, Larry
Di Ianni, Mayor of the City of Hamilton, quoted in the Spectator insert. Here, Dr. Cooper
and Mayor Di Ianni sign the Partnership Agreement for the recently completed Kitty
Murray Lane Reconstruction.
CAMPUSNEWS
Athletic Teams Preparing
for Year-End Championships
T
Dustin Van Houwelingen, fourth-year student from St. Thomas, ON drives to the
basket in a recent game against Fanshawe College.
he Athletic Department is very busy this time of year.
With most of Redeemer’s teams in action, the gym is
never empty – each team is using any available time to make
the final preparations needed before the championship
tournaments begin.
Our men’s hockey team continues to be competitive in the
Niagara Church Hockey League. In addition to their win-loss
record, the team is also proud to focus on playing the game
with a commitment to positive sportsmanship, striving to show
a Christian attitude on and off the ice. As the second half of the season begins, both men’s and
women’s basketball teams have shown marked improvement.
Both teams are led by new coaches this year who are looking
forward to building on recent successes. The women are in
good shape to qualify for a play-off qualification game. If they
do qualify, they will compete at the Ontario Colleges Athletics
Association (OCAA) Provincial Championships, which this
year are being hosted by Redeemer from March 2-4. All
basketball fans are encouraged to take in the action. More
details are available at www.redeemer.ca/athletics.
In volleyball, the Royals teams have been playing extremely
well and have outstanding records to show for it. Although
they have a tough schedule ahead of them, both teams are
competing for first place in their respective divisions. Check
the website for results and details on Redeemer’s participation
in the OCAA championship tournament.
The season is just about to begin for the men’s and
women’s indoor soccer teams. As part of the qualification
process for the OCAA Championships, the teams will travel to
Scarborough and Vaughan for tournaments this winter.
A New Direction for Redeemer’s Alumni Choir
T
he Redeemer Alumni Choir has taken a different format
this year. For the first time, Dr. Christian Teeuwsen held
auditions for the choir, with an ear to creating an ensemble
that would match a repertoire specific to Lent and Easter.
That sound of the season will be heard when the Alumni
Cantori, as this ensemble is called, presents Images of Christ, a
concert that reflects on: The Coming of Christ; The Words of
Christ; The Passion of Christ; and The Reign of Christ.
The concert will feature Bach’s Cantata (BWV#4) Christ lag
in Todesbanden, and include works by Bruckner, Mozart, and
Stravinsky. The 18-voice Alumni Cantori will be joined
by violins, viola and harpsichord, all under the direction of
Dr. Teeuwsen.
The concert will be held on April 2 at 4:00 pm at the MacNab
Street Presbyterian Church, 116 MacNab Street South in
Hamilton. A free-will offering will be taken.
CAMPUSNEWS
Coming Events
All events held on Redeemer’s campus at 777 Garner Road East, Ancaster unless otherwise noted. For tickets or more information,
please call the Box Office at 905-648-2139 x4211.
Mar
21
Mar
25
Apr
NZR
The spring mainstage performance,
directed by Tom Carson. This is a
collective theatre piece exploring the
nature of power, greed and absolute
truth. A preview performance will
take place on Tuesday, March 21
at 7:30 pm, and there is a matinee
performance on Wednesday,
March 22 at 12:00 pm. The three
evening performances will be on
March 23, 24, 25 at 7:30 pm.
Tickets are $12.00, Students/Seniors $10.00. Matinee and
Preview performances are $6.00.
Mar
30
7
Sing Into Spring
Redeemer University College Concert Choir, conducted by
Dr. Christiaan Teeuwsen, will be presenting “Sing into Spring.”
This concert, featuring repertoire from the Choir’s Spring 2006
tour, will take place at 8:00 pm in the auditorium.
Tickets are $16.00, or $13.00 for Students/Seniors.
Apr
12
Closing Convocation
Friends and supporters are invited to join Redeemer in
officially closing the 2005-06 academic year. The guest speaker,
as chosen by the graduating class, will be Assistant Professor of
Education, Dr. Jo Kuyvenhoven. 11:00 am in the Auditorium.
May
Ross Leckie & Peter Sanger
Poetry Reading
Poetry Reading featuring Ross Leckie and Peter Sanger,
4:15pm in the Redeemer Boardroom. Presented in
cooperation with the Canada Council for the Arts.
Ross Leckie was born in Lachine, Quebec and he is currently the Director
of Creative Writing at the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton. Peter
Sanger lives on a farm in South Maitland, Nova Scotia, and has published five
collections of poetry, including Earth Moth (1991) and Ironworks (2001).
27
Graduation Ceremony
Celebrate the Class of 2006 at Redeemer’s 22nd Convocation
ceremony at 2:00 pm. Featured speaker is Dr. Ian Hunter,
Emeritus Professor of Law at the University of Western
Ontario. A very limited number of tickets are available.
Please contact the Registrar’s Office for more information at
905-648-2139 x4449.
Apr
2
Images of Christ
The Redeemer Alumni Cantori featuring Bach’s Cantata
(BWV#4) Christ lag in Todesbanden, including works by Bruckner,
Mozart, and Stravinsky.
4:00 pm at the MacNab Street Presbyterian Church,
116 MacNab Street South in Hamilton.
A free-will offering will be taken.
FEATURESTORY
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By Angela Reit
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10
FEATURESTORY
It’s Reading Break, and several events suddenly seem closer for this year’s graduating
class: commencement in May, the job market in June, and the end of OSAP’s grace period
in October. Now’s the time to grapple with all those pesky questions that can stump
any Redeemer student. . . what’s my major good for, anyway? Why did I get a Liberal Arts
degree? And how can I find a job that I love without compromising my faith, without
returning to school, and without starving to death in order to pay back my student
loans? A handful of Redeemer alumni found one way to answer all those questions:
they became entrepreneurs.
Redeemer’s Entrepreneurial Alumni
“Over half of the business students at Redeemer have either
grown up in a family with its own business or have a close
relative who runs their own business. This concentration of
entrepreneurial talent is really quite remarkable, and many
of our graduates have carried on this tradition by starting
businesses of their own,” reports Business Professor Rob
Harvey. John DeVries ‘90 is one example. He currently uses
his Business major as a partner in a Chartered Accountants
firm called Brownlow and Associates, where he helps other
entrepreneurs review their
financial situation and make
plans for the future. Chris
Groot ‘99 (pictured left)
is another example;
he is the co-founder
of ITSportsNet, an
organization that
provides online sport management software services to
community sports programs. Both DeVries and Groot
have been able to apply the theories they learned in
Redeemer’s Business courses to the process of starting
their own businesses.
Stephanie Cilia VanderMeulen ‘99, on the other
hand, comes from outside of the Business program.
She was an English major who started a freelance
editing and writing business called Word for Word. She
copy-edits and writes for various independent clients,
businesses, magazines, journals and publishing houses. She
enjoys the flexibility of working from home and being able to
determine her own hours. The challenges of the job market
also seem to have encouraged VanderMeulen’s entrepreneurial
efforts; as she says, “It’s tougher to find a good job than I’d
ever imagined. I had this idea that with my education, the next
natural step was a relevant, well-paying job. Not so. […] That’s
what prompted me to start my own business and truly apply
what I had spent five years hoping I’d do ‘for real.’”
According to Hank de Jong ‘99, the Executive Director
of Worldwide Christian Schools, “So much of business is
natural, God-given gifts.” Perhaps this is one of the reasons
VanderMeulen’s company has been successful, despite her
focus on English at Redeemer. For de Jong, there are many
similarities between working for a non-profit organization and
owning one’s own business. As a double major in Sociology and
Psychology, he says that the
Redeemer motto, “Learning
is for Serving,” taught him
more than any business
course. Today, de Jong
enacts that motto in his work
for Worldwide Christian
Schools, an organization that
provides education to developing countries and simultaneously
creates opportunities for evangelism. de Jong “love[s] being
used by God to be an active participant in the growing and
developing of His Kingdom. I am convinced that, with God’s
blessing, we can make a difference through Christian education.”
“ It was the entire experience,
not just the classes, that made
Redeemer a great experience
and a great foundation.”
Prepared to Serve
Many students wonder about the benefits of a liberal arts
degree, and whether or not Redeemer provides adequate
preparation for interested entrepreneurs. If you ask de Jong
this question, which is also answered on Redeemer’s Business
Department website (http://business.redeemer.ca), he will
respond with a story. “Ironically,” de Jong explains, “Redeemer
best prepared me by having such a high tuition rate!” Hoping
11
FEATURESTORY
Entrepreneurs come from a variety of
programs: Business major John DeVries (top)
is a Chartered Accountant and partner at
Brownlow & Associates in Ancaster. Hank de
Jong (bottom), a double major in Psychology
and Sociology, is the Executive Director of
Worldwide Christian Schools.
to cover the cost of first year, he started
a landscaping company with his friend
Pieter van der Meer ‘99 while they were
still in high-school. The business was
so successful that they were able to
keep working after being admitted to
Redeemer, where they maintained status
as full-time students. de Jong admits,
however, that in his third year he did
not attend a Monday class until halfway
through October. “Indirectly, I learned
12
a lot about entrepreneurship while at
prosper in this new land. But these
Redeemer!”
“strangers in the land” had a faith strong
VanderMeulen has similar comments
enough to trust God to provide for them
about the value of her experiences
in an unfamiliar country. It might be that
outside of the Business program. She
a similar faith is needed to take the risks
did not take any business courses,
associated with entrepreneurship today.
stating that “profits, ethics, those sorts
or things, are all common sense to me.
A Combination of
Meeting tight deadlines and consistently
Instinct and Insight
delighting clients are not things you
really learn in a classroom: you have
Marvin DeVries is the President of
to be predisposed to them.” She notes
Trojan Technologies, a company that
that she does not believe in studying
develops ways of using ultraviolet light
something just for the sake of finding a
to treat recycled water. He suggests
good job, preferring to “study something
that “entrepreneurship is a combination
I’m passionate about and in which I
of instinct and insight. It requires a
have an interest, and thus be true to
perceptiveness of what the future will
myself and to my clients.” VanderMeulen
hold.” In the case of his company, for
is grateful, however, for the way that
instance, a market survey done twentyher Redeemer professors encouraged
five years ago would not have indicated
independent thought: “What the
that consumers were interested in
classroom taught me more than anything drinking UV-purified water. But by
was to think for myself.”
anticipating this need, Trojan became a
While it might be difficult for
globally successful corporation. Today,
students to appreciate fully the value
DeVries adds, this company spends
of studying at a liberal arts university,
“millions in R&D to develop products
Redeemer’s alumni have had time to
that will be relevant for its customers in
recognize its benefits. John DeVries has
the future.”
been grateful for the “problem solving
Striving to be relevant is good counsel
skills” he learned at Redeemer, whereas
for most entrepreneurs, even those who
Chris Groot emphasizes the role that
do not have access to those kinds of
Redeemer played in the formation of
resources. Redeemer’s entrepreneurial
his values: “Through the experiences
alumni also have some advice for
of taking classes, living with seven guys
graduates interested in starting their
in a townhouse, and playing on various
own businesses:
sports teams, I learned the values of hard
• “Find other entrepreneurs to hang
work, team work, integrity, perseverance,
out with. [Their motivation] is
optimism, community, and fun. It was
contagious” (Groot).
the entire experience, not just the classes, • “Have money put away before you
that made Redeemer a great experience
start so that as you’re increasing
and a great foundation.”
you’ll have something to sustain you”
Perhaps, too, there is a cultural
(VanderMeulen).
explanation for this entrepreneurial
• “Find something you enjoy doing.
success. Many Redeemer alumni are
Find a mentor” (DeVries).
products of an immigrant community
• “Rely on God’s strength, not your own”
that relied on hard work and thrift to
(de Jong).
FEATURESTORY
“Christian”
Entrepreneurship?
It is interesting to note that in response
to the increasing number of corporate
moral failures, most university business
programs now offer a course in business
in business; and the moral status of
corporations. Christian universities
such as Redeemer, by contrast, do not
limit moral issues to one course on
ethics; as Professor Harvey says, “We
endeavor to integrate faith and learning
throughout the entire curriculum,” for
“ We endeavor to integrate faith and
learning throughout the entire curriculum,”
for “the Lordship of Christ extends to all
areas of life, including the marketplace.”
ethics to help students distinguish
between right and wrong business
practices. A second-year McMaster
student in either Commerce or
Economics, for example, has to take
a course in Business Ethics (taught
by the Philosophy Department!),
where he or she will study fair and
unfair competition; responsibilities
toward employees, society, and the
environment; honesty and integrity
“the Lordship of Christ extends to all
areas of life, including the marketplace.”
The Business Department’s Mission
Statement promises to train students to
engage in productive work that serves
God and others; to be loving, upright,
fair, and honest in their dealings with
employees, managers, customers, and
competitors; to acquire and use wealth
responsibly; to be good stewards of
God’s creation; and to hold themselves
accountable to God and other
authorities. Such a declaration makes
it sound as though the responsibilities
of a Christian entrepreneur might be
greater than those of a non-believer. This
is true, however, for Christians in every
discipline, every area of creation.
Challenges will exist for entrepreneurial
Redeemer grads, but so will the blessings.
Groot, for example, says he “sees God
in the answered prayers each month
when the bills are due.” Over a hundred
years ago an American entrepreneur,
President Warren G. Harding, called
business “an expression of the Godgiven impulse to
create.” Therefore,
graduates, go forth
and create … and
you’ll discover the
worth of your major,
the meaning of a
Angela Reitsma Bick ’01
liberal arts degree,
is a part-time instructor
in English and the Writing
and just the right
Centre supervisor. She
amount of blessings
lives in Dundas with her
to pay back your
husband Allan and their
daughter, Robin.
student loans.
Educating the Entrepreneurs
In the feature article, Marvin DeVries, President of Trojan Technologies,
notes that “entrepreneurship is a combination of instinct and insight.”
While it has been said that you can’t teach instinct, the Business
Department at Redeemer has developed a program that is designed to
give students insight into launching and managing a new venture.
Entrepreneurship is one of five streams or tracks that are available
to business students. In each of these streams—Accounting, Marketing,
Entrepreneurship, Human Resources and General Management—
students first build a strong foundation by taking a number of courses
that are part of the university’s core curriculum. All business students
also complete ten fundamental business courses before focusing on a
particular stream or interest.
Within the Entrepreneurship stream, students select electives such as
marketing communications, international marketing, cost and managerial
accounting, leadership and human resource management. Their program
culminates with a capstone entrepreneurship course that is designed
to help students to recognize opportunities and to develop them into
successful new ventures. The course also examines the integration of
faith and business from the perspective of business owners, and students
also benefit from the experience and insights of guest speakers.
As with all of the five streams, students in the Entrepreneurship
stream benefit from experiential learning opportunities. Co-op
placements and internships are an important component of the Business
Program. Getting practical experience not only gives students valuable
exposure to marketplace and work practices, it also gives them the
context to understand academic business concepts better .
Another option of Redeemer’s Business Program is the Small
Business Management Minor, a seven course minor designed for
students majoring in disciplines other than business who dream of
starting or running their own business some day.
For more information about the Business Program at Redeemer,
visit: http://business.redeemer.ca.
13
CENTRESPOT
Recognizing
Student Gifts & Donor Generosity
E
ven with all the excitement surrounding the Growing with Integrity Campaign and
the opening of new facilities (pp. 4-5), Redeemer remains committed to making
university education as affordable as possible. One mean of doing this is keeping a
tight reign on tuition increases – as reported on page 6, Redeemer has actually frozen
its tuition and housing fees for the 2006-07 academic year!
Another way is to offer a generous and diverse program of financial aid that
students can access: In 2004-05, Redeemer students received over $4.6 million of
assistance through awards, government loan programs, on-campus employment and
institutional financial aid programs.
We are grateful to the many donors who have demonstrated their support to
Redeemer and its students by funding bursaries, which are designed to assist students
who have financial need, or scholarships, which recognize academic merit or
excellence in a particular field. We also celebrate with our students the talents that
God has given them, and are pleased that those abilities can be recognized in this way.
Funding an award like this is a wonderful opportunity to impact students directly
and to recognize their gifts. If you would like information on setting up an award or
scholarship, please contact Ben Stegeman, Stewardship Director, at 905-648-2131 x 4205,
or [email protected].
At Redeemer’s 5th annual Business Community Open House on November 17, Karyn Williams of DUCA
Financial Services presented third-year Business major Craig Vanderveen with the Department of Business
Leadership Scholarship.
14
2005-06 Scholarships & Awards
» Alumni Leadership Award
James Bloemendal, Brampton
» Willemina Blom Scholarship
Laura Moelker, Chatham
» Brownlow & Associates, Chartered
Accountants, Accounting Scholarship
Andrea Wolters, Fredericton, NB
» Cheryl S. Buiter Scholarship for
Women’s Leadership
Candice Turner, Brantford
» Christian Stewardship Services Awards:
Natural Sciences and Mathematics Division
Victoria Klassen, Fort Erie
Social Sciences Division
Kathryn Koornneef, Stoney Creek
Foundations Divison
Leah Ensing, Surrey, BC
Literature and Fine Arts Division
Sarah Gillis, London
» Computer Science Dept. Scholarship
(NetAccess Systems Inc)
Art Smit, Hamilton
» Anne de Boer Leadership Award
Micael Arce, Santa Cruz, Bolivia
» H.R. DeBolster Scholarship
Michelle VanHartingsveldt, Burlington
» Wm. De Jong Enterprises Inc.
Business Scholarship
Roman Golovchenko,Toronto
» Department of Business
Entrepreneurship Scholarship
Jared Mosterd, Bowmanville
» Department of Business
Leadership Scholarship (DUCA Financial)
Craig Vanderveen, Carman, MB
» English Department Scholarships
(Mountaineer Movers)
Lauren Schultz, Peterborough
Karissa Koopmans, Peterborough
Amanda Baker, Caledonia
» Great-West Life, London Life, Canada Life
Business Scholarship
Amy Valkenburg, Blackstock
» Grin’s Scholarship
Henny Hamilton, Stoney Creek
» Hamilton Spectator Writing Excellence Award
Jennifer Weening, Bradford
» George Herbert Memorial Scholarship
Lauren Schultz, Peterborough
» History Dept Scholarship
(Mountaineer Movers)
Michelle DeBoer, Caledonia
CENTRESPOT
» Steven J. Kouwenhoven French Scholarship
Jennifer Weening, Bradford
» Steven J. Kouwenhoven
Physical Education Scholarship
Emily Clark, St. Catharines
» Steven J. Kouwenhoven
Natural Science and Mathematics Scholarship
Loretta Vanderspek, Norwich
» David Maines Christian
Communications Scholarship
Jason Duermeyer,Toronto
David Groen,Troy
» Nellie Miller Scholarship
Sam Frisk, St. Catharines
» Parkview Customs Brokerage
Business Entrance Scholarship
Cara Ottens, Drayton
» Redeemer University College
Environmental Stewardship Scholarship
Daniel Brinkman, Chatham
» Redeemer University College
Natural Science and Mathematics Scholarship
Jocelyn Martens, Port Rowan
Jordan Ellens, Lacombe, AB
» Redeemer University College
Psychology Scholarship
Rebecca McGee, Orillia
» Redeemer University College
Sociology/Social Work Scholarship
Sharon Kiers, Grimsby
» Thesaurous tou Theou (Treasuries of God)
Scholarship
Craig Vanderveen, Carman, MB
» VanDuyvendyk Scholarship
Angela Herzog, Newmarket
» Cor Van Dyk History Scholarship
Heather Alblas, Ancaster
» Dina VanHerwerden Memorial Award
Katrina Meerveld, Beamsville
» J.J. van Herwerden Award
Jennifer Klassen, Fort Erie
» Westbrook Group Scholarship
Nathaniel Vandendool, Woodstock
» Edward N. Zwart Music Scholarship
James Bloemendal, Brampton
2005-06 Bursaries
» A & T Minerals Inc. Bursary
» Bosch Rexroth Canada Bursary
» Brownlow & Associates,
Chartered Accountants, Bursary (2)
» Christian University Bursary (40)
» Computer Science Bursary for Incoming
Students (AGFA Healthcare)
» Computer Science Bursary for Returning
Students (AGFA Healthcare)
» Dept of Business
Entrepreneurship Bursary (Canadian Tire)
» Dept of Business Sales and Marketing Bursary
(Atlantic Packaging Products Ltd)
» deWaard Family Endowment Bursary (2)
» Dragt Memorial Bursary (6)
» Henry and Jane Feenstra Psychology Bursary
» History Dept. Bursary (Sweet Paradise Bakery)
» Steven J. Kouwenhoven Bursary
» Steven J. Kouwenhoven
Mature Student Bursary
» Lakewood Bursary
» Mephibosheth Bursary (5)
» Sam Miedema Memorial Bursary (2)
» Milk and Honey Bursary
» Mustard Seed Bursary (6)
» Ontario Christian School Administrators
Redeemer Academic Scholarships
In addition to those awards, which are funded either directly
by donors or through endowments originally created through
donations, Redeemer University College also provides merit-based
scholarships. In this academic year, Redeemer offered academic
scholarships to 51% of the incoming class and to more than 200
returning students. Although the total amount of those awards
– well over $360,000 – is impressive enough, the amount available
to students is about to get much greater.
As part of the initiative to make Redeemer more affordable (p.7),
the value of these academic scholarships will increase substantially
for the 2006-07 academic year. These are grade-based, renewable
»
»
»
»
»
»
»
»
»
»
»
»
Association (OCSAA) Bursary
Marco Oussoren Bursary (4)
Oussoren Music Bursary
Prins Family Bursary
G. Renkema Memorial Bursary
Redeemer University College Bursary for
Non-Ontario Students (13)
Redeemer University College Mission Bursary (3)
Paulus E. Tameling Bursary
Art Vanderstelt Memorial Bursary
Vision Nursing/Rest Home Bursary (2)
Voortman Award (5)
Voortman Cookies Bursary (5)
Voortman Missions Bursary (5)
External Scholarships
» Canada Millennium Excellence Award
Scholarship - Entrance
Jared Dalton,Tillsonburg
» Canada Millennium Excellence Award
Scholarship - In course
Jonathan VanSchepen, Brantford
» Datatel Scholars Foundation Scholarship
Sara Plantinga, Guelph
» Terry Fox Humanitarian Award
Veronica White, Oakville
32 students were also awarded Queen
Elizabeth II Aiming for the Top Scholarships
this year. These awards, presented by the
Ministry of Training, Colleges, and Universities
of Ontario, recognize students who have
shown academic excellence at the high school
level and assist students with financial need.
scholarships which are automatically awarded to students. For
example, a student with a 77% average will earn a Merit Scholarship,
which next year will be worth $1250, up from $750. The Board
of Governors Scholarship, valued next year at $3500, is given to
incoming students with an average above 90%.
Redeemer Foundation Awards
The Redeemer Foundation’s Scholarship Program awards
students for their gifts in Leadership and Academic Achievement.
In 2005-06, the Foundation awarded 40 students a total of almost
$100,000 in awards that recognize their gifts in leadership or
academics.
15
FACULTYNEWS
Leaving no Stone Unturned:
Van Dyke Cataloguing Kuyper at Princeton
F
or some years now, there has been
a revival of the study of Abraham
Kuyper (1837-1920). The thought and
career of this Reformed thinker and
Neocalvinist statesman are enjoying a
groundswell of interest, consultation and
publication, not just in his native country
of the Netherlands, but just as much, if
not more so, in North America.
For example, the Work Research
Foundation under Dr. Gideon Strauss
(a part-time instructor of Philosophy
at Redeemer), and before that Chuck
Colson’s Prison Fellowship, have called
attention to Kuyper’s intensely relevant
doctrine of sphere-sovereignty. In
1998, Professor James Bratt of Calvin
College produced a voluminous Kuyper
Reader and is today working on a fulllength biography of the man. At Calvin
Seminary, former Redeemer professor
of Religion and Theology Dr. John
Bolt is continuing to publish studies
on Kuyper’s “public theology.” And
The renewed interest in the work and influence of
Abraham Kuyper is mirrored at Redeemer in, for
example, the popularity of Kuyper’s Café, a student
group examining worldview issues.
Princeton Theological Seminary recently
purchased the entire library of the late
Kuyper biographer George Puchinger,
to be made accessible in the “Kuyper
Room” (which is located next to the
“Karl Barth Room”).
Count Professor of History (Emeritus),
Dr. Harry Van Dyke, as one of the
participants in this revival. Van Dyke
had many fascinating conversations
with Puchinger when both were living
in Amsterdam. When Van Dyke learned
about the arrival, lock-stock-and-barrel,
of the books that once belonged to
Puchinger, he contacted the Kuyper
Center in Princeton, New Jersey, to offer
his services in cataloguing the many
Dutch books of the collection, and to set
up a database for Kuyper research.
Van Dyke has been greatly enjoying
his stay at Princeton, the site of Kuyper’s
influential Stone Lecture Series in 1898.
“The richness of Kuyperiana is just
overwhelming,” he says. “It takes us back
to the vibrant spiritual source from which
our Redeemer College sprang. Every day
I have the privilege of leafing through
the books and articles by and about this
great man of God.”
Organizing Tournaments and Organized Religion
Byl authors books on the administration and accommodation of sport
A
s tournament director, you are responsible for organizing
the year-end championship tournament for your town’s
church softball league. There are 13 teams, some are good,
others well, not so good; multiple fields; one day to complete
all the games, and a league by-law that states each team must be
guaranteed two games. People are looking to you to organize a
tournament that is competitive and enjoyable for all the teams,
no matter what their ability level happens to be.
Although it seems a daunting task, Dr. John Byl, Professor
of Physical Education at Redeemer, has created a wonderful
resource to save you from a winter of ribbing from your
ecclesiastical colleagues. The Third Edition of Organizing
Successful Tournaments, recently published by Human Kinetics, is
a comprehensive guide to organizing any kind of tournament.
The book describes the advantages and disadvantages of a
number of different tournament formats, and includes a CD
16
with over 1000 schedule templates. Christine Westra Mantel ‘01
was most helpful in preparing the CD template.
Dr. Byl authored a chapter in another book that was
published last year by Human Kinetics: Introduction to Recreation
and Leisure. In it, Dr. Byl contributed an article that surveys the
way different faith traditions perceive recreational activities
and the role that religious organizations have in promoting
recreational activities.
Two Redeemer alumnae are also featured in the book as
Outstanding Graduates. Annette Bax Keep ‘01 and Christina
Hogeterp Vugteveen ‘96, both of whom have careers in
recreation, discuss how their background and experiences led
to their vocations, and give advice to undergraduates wishing to
pursue a career in the field.
Both of these books are available at the Redeemer Campus
Bookstore, or through HumanKinetics.com.
FACULTYNEWS
From the Ivory Tower to the Shop Floor
Supporting the skilled trades in Hamilton
S
killed Trades is not a phrase one
would normally associate with
Redeemer University College. However,
last summer Rob Harvey, a professor
in the Business Department, worked
with the Skilled Trades Alliance to
develop and evaluate options to position
the organization in the future. The
Skilled Trades Alliance is a coalition
of stakeholders including businesses,
government agencies, educators and
labour which actively promotes and
works to strengthen the skilled trades
in Hamilton. It is estimated that 85,000
direct and indirect jobs in Hamilton can
be attributed to skilled trades across the
service, motive power, construction and
industrial sectors. The potential shortage
of tradespeople in the near future due
to the expected wave of retirees has
significant implications for the local
Hamilton economy.
The project mapped out the services
of all of those organizations which
provide linkages between supply-side
stakeholders (including school boards
and apprentices), and demand-side
stakeholders (such as businesses and
trade associations). Based on this
analysis, the Skilled Trades Alliance
developed and evaluated a series of
options. The results of this study
were presented to alliance members
in October.
The Skilled Trades Alliance (www.
skilledtrades.ca) is an initiative of the
Industry-Education Council (IEC). One
of the primary goals of the IEC is to be
a leader in school-work transition, and
it supports the many paths that students
take as they make that transition.
For example, students may join the
workforce directly from high school,
through apprenticeship programs, or
after first completing a course of study
at community college or university.
The IEC also has programs and events
targeting at-risk high school students, as
well as encouraging life-long learning.
Redeemer University College has long
been involved in this broad-based
community initiative – Professor Harvey
represents Redeemer on the IEC Board,
and for the past few years, its Hamilton
School-Work Transition Conference has been
hosted by Redeemer.
Through his work with the Industry-Education
Council of Hamilton, Assistant Professor of Business
Rob Harvey has helped develop a work plan to
advance the skilled trades in Hamilton.
Writing Specialist Needed
The Department of English invites applications for a parttime Writing Specialist to supervise our Writing Centre an
average of three days each week from mid-August to midMay. The successful candidate will have at minimum an M.A.
in English and experience in teaching expository writing
(including grammar) at the university or senior secondary
school level. Duties will include administering an entrance
writing examination, teaching two sections (one per term) of
ENG 101 (Composition), conducting essay-writing workshops,
offering other remedial instruction in a tutorial setting and
supervising the work of student tutors and proofreaders.
For more information on this position, please visit
www.redeemer.ca/openings.html, or contact
Dr. Jacob P. Ellens, Vice-President (Academic) by email at
[email protected]. The deadline for applications is 31 March
2006 or until the position is filled.
17
FACULTYNEWS
Storytelling
for Shalom
Redeemer faculty and students promote
literacy through unique in-school program
By Amy Binder ‘06
F
rom September 22-24, 2005, five Redeemer professors
attended a seminar entitled Spirituality, Justice and Pedagogy,
sponsored by the Kuyers Institute for Christian Teaching
and Learning at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, MI. The
conference attendees heard from faculty from across the U.S.
and elsewhere who are bringing about social change in their
local communities by empowering people to develop their own
voice, history and heritage. For example, university students
have recorded oral histories of a coal mining community in
West Virginia; in another initiative, students provide theatre
performances for Spanish-speaking immigrants in Allentown,
PA. Hearing these stories, Assistant Professor of Theatre Arts
Sharon Klassen, long a proponent of showing rather than
telling, began to think of ways that these ideas could be applied
in Hamilton.
For Klassen, theatre has always been an ideal medium for
promoting social justice. Because the audience is drawn into
the story, and can see an embodiment of the playwright’s
message on stage (rather than simply reading it), theatre can
be a powerful tool for change. Drawing on this philosophy, and
on the works of Dr. Nicholas Wolterstorff, who has written and
spoken about teaching for justice, Klassen came up with an idea.
With help from fellow faculty, and with a small grant from
Redeemer, she put together a program that involves theatre,
education, and storytelling to reach out to the wider community.
This January, sixteen students, along with Professor Klassen
and Assistant Professor of Education, Dr. Jo Kuyvenhoven,
began working with close to fifty fifth-grade students, a number
of whom are from immigrant or Native Canadian families, at
Queen Mary School in downtown east Hamilton. The program
sees children write stories, either from personal or family
history, from their imaginations, or from their own cultures.
In fact, one of the aims of the program is to recognize and
celebrate the cultural diversity of the school as the students
develop literacy skills in a new and exciting way.
According to Klassen, “the real plan here is to try to get the
children to find their own voice in their own way.” The children
18
Redeemer students and faculty are working with students and staff at
Queen Mary School in Hamilton
write their stories with encouragement and tutoring from the
Redeemer students. Because each Redeemer student works
with the same two to three students throughout the program,
each child benefits from closer personal attention and support
than they might otherwise receive in the classroom. The success
that comes from writing the stories also helps to promote the
child’s self-esteem. Towards the end of March, the children will
perform their stories for classmates and teachers, and celebrate
their accomplishments with a closing party.
By making this a fun program, Klassen hopes that the
children will continue to work at improving their language
skills. Since “literacy leads to justice,” the program’s ultimate
goal is to provide students with greater opportunities. The
Redeemer students also benefit from the program: not only is
it a way to develop classroom and tutoring skills, they also see
this as an opportunity to go out into the world and be living
examples of Christ’s love. “This is the ‘stranger in our midst,’”
says Klassen. “This is a special opportunity to…reach out.”
So far, Klassen and the staff at Queen Mary are pleased by
the overall response of the elementary students, and the
Redeemer students. Plans are already underway to make this an
annual program.
LECTERNAT-LARGE
Completion OR Calling?
Reflections on Mandatory Retirement
By Dr. Theo Plantinga, Professor of Philosophy
S
ome years ago I read a book whose exact title now escapes
me (I must be getting old!). As I recall, the title posed an
interesting question, which can be unpacked as follows: Is dying
something we must do or something we may do?
This question sits in the back of my mind as I contemplate
the discussion now underway in Ontario (and also other
places) concerning “mandatory retirement.” The provincial
government recently abolished the old rule that everyone must
retire upon reaching age 65. Many hail such a step as the latest
manifestation of “liberation,” but I wonder whether this new
freedom might, for some, discourage them from exploring
those important parts of life that might just lie beyond a career
in the classroom.
At Redeemer the professors “may” retire anywhere after
age 55. To retire means that you activate the pension you have
been accumulating
(and which will be
As long as the Lord
larger if you wait until
gives us health and
age 65) and receive
breath, we do not
the title of emeritus
retire from his kingdom. professor. What then?
Fade away, like an old
We continue to make
soldier (“they never
ourselves useful—
die,” said General
Douglas MacArthur;
here at Redeemer
“they just fade away”).
and elsewhere in the
No, the experience
kingdom, no matter
at Redeemer has
been that retired
what our age.
faculty generally
remain active, contributing to the life of the university, but on a
somewhat reduced schedule that allows more time for research,
travel and family (especially grandchildren).
Alumni who remember me from the very earliest days of
Redeemer’s history will not be surprised to hear that I get a
year older every year and have already passed that milestone
age of 55. And so these are personal questions for me. I
must confess that although I am somewhat uneasy about a
“mandatory retirement” policy (you’re 65 now, and so time is
up for you), I don’t like a “mandatory unretirement” policy
either (you’re not old enough to retire; we still need you).
“
”
Dr. Plantinga, one of Redeemer’s original faculty members, is looking towards, but
perhaps not looking forward to, his retirement. Fortunately, that event is not imminent.
The value in the old arrangement was that a professor in his
or her final years had a goal to work toward. He could retire
honorably at the appointed time without feeling that he was
letting his beloved school down. He had completed his term,
so to speak.
But I also want to affirm that as long as the Lord gives us
health and breath, we do not retire from his kingdom. We
continue to make ourselves useful -- here at Redeemer and
elsewhere in the kingdom, no matter what our age. That’s why
I am reluctant to use language like “early retirement” when one
of our professors who is not yet 65 announces that this will be
his last year.
I hope to teach for some time yet, but I have indeed come to
the point where my children are grown and out of the house,
and one of them has in turn made me a grandfather. I would
love to spend more time with my family. And so I hope our
community can regard a retirement decision, like a decision to
take a position elsewhere, as a matter of one’s calling.
19
STUDENTNEWS
Embracing Culture
in
the
Classroom
Redeemer students develop methods and materials for schools in Sierra Leone
“Y
ou can’t use “A is for apple, B is for
bear…” when the children you’re
teaching have never seen an apple and
don’t know what a bear is.” That was the
challenge facing Loreen Deelstra as she
developed reading and writing materials
for use in schools in Sierra Leone.
Deelstra, a third-year French major in
the Education program from Wyoming,
ON and Katie McBride, an Honours
English and French major from Toronto,
were in the West African country this past
fall as part of a Canada Corps University
Partnership Program internship
sponsored the Association of Universities
and Colleges of Canada (AUCC) and
CIDA, the Canadian International
Development Agency.
“For classroom materials to be
effective,” Deelstra remarks, “they
need to have some connection to the
children’s lives. My work focused on
developing resources and strategies
that are applicable to the specific needs
Some of the students of the Alakalai School get
ready to start another school day.
20
Katie McBride (kneeling at bottom left) and Loreen Deelstra (standing, far right) pose with the staff of the
Alakalai School, where 11 staff members serve over 1000 students in grades 1-6.
of the children and teachers of Sierra
Leone.” Beyond the cultural differences,
Deelstra also needed to be mindful
of the limitations of a school system
that has been ravaged by civil war and
poverty. Pedagogical methodology can
be restricted when 20 children need to
share one writing slate and some chalk,
or there is only one dictionary for an
entire school.
Sierra Leone’s effort to raise national
literacy levels from about 30% was
dramatically affected by the war.
However, as villages and towns work to
rebuild their communities today they
urgently work to institute schools. People
STUDENTNEWS
hold great hope for the country’s future through education.
Thus, in spite of rudimentary facilities, large classes, and often
untrained teachers, parents send their children to school.
They know what UNICEF confirms: One’s quality of life, career
choice and a climate of good governance depend very much on
literacy abilities.
Katie McBride’s work focused on addressing the challenge
of large classes with few materials. Incorporating the culture’s
more communal outlook and tendencies, she developed
collaborative learning strategies that are applicable to teachers
who typically have classes of 60-90 students and very few
resources or supplies with which to work. She developed ways
of reusing a storybook in fresh ways and developed strategies
for pairs of children to help each other learn to read and write.
The internship is one part of an on-going project. Both
Deelstra and McBride have created manuals that are being
developed and evaluated for use by teachers and schools across
Sierra Leone, and this summer, Dr. Jo Kuyvenhoven will return
to Sierra Leone (she spent a number of years there before
coming to Redeemer) to supervise the printing of the manuals.
Kuyvenhoven, an Assistant Professor of Education at Redeemer
and one of the organizers of the internship, has worked and
lived in Sierra Leone for several years and spends more than
a month every year studying and working towards raising the
literacy level. This summer she will oversee the production of
the books written by Loreen and Katie. After a workshop with
elementary school teachers, class sets will be distributed to all
the children at 22 schools in northern Sierra Leone.
This project is sponsored by CIDA, which recognizes the
important role that literacy has in advancing good government
in developing countries. Redeemer University College is
grateful for their support of this project.
Worship God
with all your…
CITB host workshops on many
aspects of worship
By James Bloemendal ‘06
O
n Saturday January 14, Redeemer welcomed
over sixty people to share ideas on enhancing
worship in a variety of ways. The “Worship and
Leadership Seminars” was organized by the executive
team of Church-in-the-Box (CITB), the group that
leads Redeemer’s contemporary worship services.
Being a student-run organization, leader turn-over is
an issue for CITB, and the group is looking for ways to
continue providing quality worship planning through
this ministry.
The day opened with a seminar from Redeemer’s
chaplain, Dr. Rob Powell, on the purpose of worship.
From there, conferees broke into more specialized
training seminars. The invited speakers had a variety
of experience within different facets of worship.
Grace Moes and Colleen Reinders shared their
experiences of effectively leading a band and engaging
a congregation. Ruth-Ann Schuringa ‘87 spoke
on planning worship services. Redeemer Theatre
Arts professor, Dr. Raymond Louter, encouraged
and equipped participants on how expressively
to communicate scripture passages. And Anita
VanZummeran shared her journey of how God
unfolded the visual artist within her, and explained
how she has used that gift to help lead others in
worship. All of this was tied together at the end of the
day with a time of worship which included music and
Scripture readings.
Both conference speakers and attendees found the
day refreshing, in part because of the opportunity to
learn more about worship. But conferees were also
encouraged by the challenge set out by each speaker:
to love God and their congregations through the way
they plan, prepare for and participate in worship.
Both the organizers and the participants are hoping
to make the “Worship and Leadership Seminars” an
annual event.
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STUDENTNEWS
Reading Week Itinerary
F
or many people, Reading Week (or Spring Break) conjures up images of students
racing down to Florida or some other warm locale for a week of fun in the sun.
Although a number of Redeemer students will also make that trek this year, quite a
few of them will also be using the one-week break in the term to go on service projects.
» For the fifth year, Assistant Dean of
Students Eileen Fallon will be taking a
number of students to Amsterdam to work
at Youth With a Mission’s (YWAM) drop-in
youth shelter. Beyond their work in the
heart of Holland’s largest city, the students
will also have the opportunity to do a bit of
traveling to other parts of the country.
“Is that carry-on or will you be checking that?” Some
of the Redeemer students who are setting up a
computer lab in Belize this Reading Week. They are
working with Worldwide Christian Schools, which
organized the shipment of Redeemer computers
that had become redundant.
» Although it has been several months
since Katrina wrecked havoc on New
Orleans, there is still a substantial amount
of work that needs to be done there.
Working with the Christian Reformed
Church’s World Relief Committee,
Activities and Orientation Coordinator
Matt Pamplin will lead a team of student
volunteers to assist in some of the on-going
clean-up and reconstruction efforts.
» Worldwide Christian Schools
(www.wwcs.org) has built dozens of
schools in underprivileged areas. Several
Redeemer students will be joining one of
the WWCS teams in Belize this year to
continue that work. The group includes
several Computer Science students who
will be setting up a computer lab in one of
those recently constructed schools, with
some of Redeemer’s redundant computers.
» Closer to home, third-year student
Steve Dykstra is organizing a week-long
service project in Hamilton. The seven
students involved with this initiative will
spend time with a number of service
organizations throughout the city, assisting
wherever, and with whatever, is needed.
Standing Firm in the Faith Winter Retreat focuses on relationships
T
his past January, 85 Redeemer students gathered their
sleeping bags, pillows and Bibles and boarded two buses
for the annual Winter Retreat Weekend at Camp Shalom
in Cambridge. A refreshing time of fun and fellowship, the
weekend has been a highlight for students for many years,
an opportunity to get away from the stresses and pressures of
schoolwork for a few days and refocus on their relationship
with God and each other.
The weekend is organized by Student Senate’s Spiritual and
Services Committee (SASC) which works to provide students
with activities and opportunities that encourage them to be
passionate about keeping their lives centred around Christ.
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The theme of this retreat was “Standing Firm in the Faith,”
and was led by Keith Edwards, the Registrar at Toronto Baptist
Seminary. In four sessions over the weekend, he encouraged
students to constantly be aware of the spiritual warfare that is
always a part of the Christian life - in truth, temptation, trials
and triumph. Following these sessions, students broke into
small groups not only to further discuss the topic, but also to
encourage one another.
Throughout the semester, members of these small groups
will often get together to reminisce about the weekend, develop
the relationships begun, and to encourage each other to
remain firm in their faith.
ALUMNINEWS
Grad School 101
Alumni panelists share their
post-Redeemer academic experiences
By Josie Loewen ‘06
Alumni
Featured in
Inaugural Film
Festival
I
Todd Adamowich shares some of his experiences with Kristina Kuehnel ‘08 after the Graduate School
Social. Panelists, and other graduates, often make themselves available to talk with current students, acting
as a valuable resource as they ponder their career.
R
edeemer alumni figured prominently in two recent events that gave current
students the opportunity to hear for themselves what to expect if they are
contemplating graduate-level studies. On January 12, Deborah Bowen and the English
Department hosted a Graduate School Panel Discussion which featured English
graduates, Angela Reitsma Bick ‘01, James Brink ‘01, Erin Goheen ‘03, and Jeff
Stacey ‘03. The alumni panelists responded to specific questions and offered their
advice to the undergraduates on topics such as how to sort through different worldviews,
the differences between the Christian environment at Redeemer and the secular
environment, study habits, courses, and program requirements at public graduate schools.
A similar discussion panel was part of the annual Graduate School Seminar, hosted
by Student Life and the Alumni Office on January 24. A cross-disciplinary event,
the Seminar included a primer on the different types of graduate schools and the
resources that are available to students from Redeemer’s Career Services Department.
The panel also reflected a broad scope of experiences: Todd Adamowich ‘05, is
pursuing a Masters of Social Work at Wilfred Laurier University; Shannon Spike ‘02
has recently completed a Masters of Arts in Political Science at the University of
Guelph, and Phil Teeuwsen ‘95 earned a Masters of Education from Brock University.
The panelists shared their experiences, especially those areas where Redeemer
prepared them well, and those areas which could have been improved. They also
challenged the undergrads to be prepared to work, to seek answers to rejection, and
to learn to work through faith issues.
Both of these events are examples of the willingness of many alumni to return to
campus in service to the Redeemer community, and in particular, current students.
t’s not quite Sundance or
Cannes, but Redeemer will host
its first Film Festival this winter.
As part of this inaugural event,
students will screen movies that
they have produced. The entries
will be judged and prizes will be
awarded.
The winning entry will be part
of the same bill as the festival’s
feature film, A Friend of Mine,
directed by Jason Hofing ‘99. The
75-minute film – a comedy about
relationships – has plenty
of alumni content: the screenplay
was written by Vaughn Gowling ‘97
and it features Joel Bootsma ‘96,
Jen McNaughton ‘03 and Sara
Weber ‘97.
Both films will be shown on
Saturday, March 11 in Room 213,
Redeemer’s new tiered lecture
hall, which has an advanced
projection and sound system.
Following the show, there will be a
Question and Answer session with
Jason, moderated by THRESH, a
Redeemer student organization
that examines culture through the
eyes of faith.
The winning student film will be
shown at 7:00 pm, and A Friend of
Mine starts at 8:00 pm. Tickets for
both are $7 ($5 for students), and
are available at the door.
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ALUMNINEWS
Grace
the Way
Along
I
n the final weeks of the Vietnam War,
with the fall of Saigon imminent, one
of the many humanitarian missions to
rescue people from the approaching
Communists involved the airlift of
children from the Go Vap Orphanage.
Thanh Campbell ‘96 was one of those
children. His incredible story, and the
efforts he is making to reunite the other
56 orphans who barely made it out, has
been the focus of national media interest.
It has been 30 years since the 57
orphans were loaded onto a Hercules
cargo plane, older kids sitting around
the perimeter of the plane and infants,
such as one-year old Thanh, placed in
orange crates or boxes and held down
with duct tape. Any family records there
might have been were lost amid the
confusion and urgency that marked the
Thanh Campbell’s Incredible Journey
escape. These were truly orphans, with
little or no chance of ever being able to
track down their birth families in what
was to become, for many years, a country
closed to outsiders.
On April 17, 1975, four days after
arriving in Toronto, Thanh was
adopted by Rev. William and Maureen
Campbell, and their other children
Joan, Nancy, Keith, Stan and Dave.
By his own admission, Thanh has had
“a wonderful, blessed life,” that has
included graduating from Redeemer,
where he met and married Karina
Koops Campbell ‘99. Now a part-time
fund raiser and a sales agent for the
Beacon magazine, Thanh also tours as a
motivational speaker on missions, and is
a representative for Mercy Ships Canada.
But he has always wondered about the
circumstances that
brought him to
Canada, and the
whereabouts of
the other children
of Go Vap.
In November,
2003, through a
chance encounter,
Thanh met Trent
Thanh Campbell shortly
after he arrived in
Kilner, one of the
Toronto in 1975.
other children
brought over on
the same plane. “It was something I had
always hoped for, but never imagined
happening,” says Campbell. Since that
time, Thanh and Trent have been putting
together the pieces of the story of their
flight. In April 2005 many of the answers
came to them during a very memorable
Alumni Board active on a number of fronts
T
he Redeemer Alumni Association Board of Directors is
continuing to explore and develop ways of implementing
the Association’s Mission Statement of providing alumni with
opportunities to:
•
build and strengthen their relationships with the Redeemer
University College community;
•
use their gifts and talents to serve that community; and
•
encourage one another to work out God’s calling in their lives.
Some of the initiatives the Board is working on this year
include: a major overhaul of the alumni website; designing a
new look for the Association; identifying better ways, especially
through electronic media, to communicate with alumni;
reviewing all aspects of alumni financial giving to Redeemer;
and raising the profile of alumni on campus. The Alumni
Association’s Mission Statement, and the Vision Statements
which are guiding the Board’s work can be found at
www.redeemer.ca/alumni/Mission.
24
The Redeemer Alumni Association Board of Governors:
Front row (l-r): Sharon Timmerman VanderMeulen ‘89; Natalie Armstrong ’06
(Student Senate representative); Monica Proper Mudde ‘00; Alma Rivera Pittaway
‘92; Erin Goheen ‘03, Secretary. Back Row (l-r): Kevin Huinink ‘95, President; Tim
Wolfert ‘87, Alumni Office; Heather Sinnema ‘99 (Senate representative); Stephen
Witteveen ‘95,Vice President; Scott Zylstra ‘96. Absent: J.D. Alkema ‘97; Phil
Teeuwsen ‘95 (Board of Governor’s representative).
ALUMNINEWS
I said or did that ‘earned’ my way into the
“ There was nothing
Campbell family and the love and acceptance that awaited me there.
Thanh Campbell with
Victoria Leach and Trent
Kilner in 2005
reunion with Victoria Leach, who was in
charge of adoptions for the Children’s
Aid Society at the time of the airlift.
That meeting, and the story behind
it, was covered in a feature article in the
Toronto Star on April 17, 2005 (Two
Orphans, Two Countries, One Quest,
by Jordan HeathRawlings). The
story was also
filmed by CBC
News and aired
on Canada Now
and The National. Subsequent stories
have also appeared
in the Toronto Star and other media
outlets, such as the Hamilton Spectator
and CH News.
Looking back on the events of his life,
Thanh notes that “so many people were
involved in helping me find safety and
freedom in Canada. It’s a story of grace
Advance Notice
The Alumni Board is a volunteer body elected
by alumni to manage and direct the affairs of the
Association. If you would like to nominate someone
(including yourself) to serve on the Board, please
contact the Alumni Office at 905-648-2131 x4292,
or [email protected]. A slate of nominees
will be presented in the June issue of Images.
For more information on Board governance, visit,
www.redeemer.ca/alumni/association/constitution/htm.
Homecoming, the annual celebration of and for
Redeemer alumni, will be held this year on Saturday,
September 30. More details will follow in the June
issue of Images, but be sure to set the date aside
early. For information on last year’s event, visit
www.redeemer.ca/alumni/alumni05photos.htm.
”
and mercy, undeserved and unmerited.
There was nothing I said or did that
‘earned’ my way into the Campbell
family and the love and acceptance that
awaited me there. In that way, it is similar
to finding our place in the family of
God.” It’s a story that he now also enjoys
sharing with many people.
Trent and Thanh are hoping that
many of the 57 orphans, families,
volunteers and friends who were involved
with the airlift will be able to take part in
a very special reunion being planned for
April 2006 in Oakville, Ontario. Those
who are interested in having Thanh
speak of his experiences at a church or
school event, or who would like to learn
more about the reunion, should contact
him at [email protected] or visit
www.57orphans.ca.
We’ve got a story to tell
A
lumni are the “product” of Redeemer, and many of them
have experienced success in various aspects of their lives.
Many alumni are also willing to share with others the role their
education has played in preparing them for life after graduation.
For example, alumni have been a great resource for the recent
graduate school information programs (p. 23). Building on the
success of that event, the Alumni Office is working with different
academic departments to bring alumni from those disciplines back
to campus to share their experiences with current students.
In the same way, the Alumni Board is helping to identify former
students who are making a positive impact in all areas of life, not
just in academia or the workforce. The Board hopes to share these
“success stories” with current and prospective students, providing
living proof, so to speak, of the value of a Redeemer education.
If you would like to suggest someone that we can profile for this
initiative (don’t be shy–feel free to nominate yourself), contact the
Alumni Office, or click on www.redeemer.ca/alumni/stories.
25